When one is doing repairs on a very old barn, and he comes across a metal sign, he considers whether he should toss it in the old metal disposal pile or put it in an on-line auction site to see if he can get ten bucks for it.
He chooses the latter. Maybe, just maybe, someone will want a rusty sign for some hipster decor. O.K. Get a nice picture of it by Little Brother. Put it on the site. Start the bids at one Franc (about one US dollar).
Well, surprise! Someone was interested , and the bid did get to ten. The length of the auction is a week, so sleep on it and see what happens.
Morning comes and it is at 60! Seriously? For a rusty metal sign?
Well. It is old, maybe turn of the century - last century, not this. And it is ceramic-covered, not enameled, so, yes, maybe interesting. But still, a rusty old metal sign.
The price goes up. One hundred. Some people like it. Wow. Maybe rusty signs are en vogue.
Um, the price still goes up....
And up.....
Two hundred. Yikes! Really?
Three hundred.
Check it for hidden diamonds. None.
Then four hundred.
Well, it is good it didn’t get junked.
Two men are battling each other for it. The rest drop out. Understandably.
A rusty old metal sign.
The week is drawing to a close. Over four hundred.
Not bad for a barn find.
Last minutes....
Five hundred.
The rules are, if, at the closing time, someone makes a bid, the time is extended for three minutes to allow a last bid for anyone else.
Soneone did. Six hundred.
Unbelievable.
More three minutes. More bids, by twenties, by fifties.
Seven hundred.
Who would do that, for an old rusty metal sign?
Three more minutes...
Eight hundred.
Someone, two someones, do really want this.
Nine hundred!
Not possible. But it is.
More three-minute pings.
ONE THOUSAND!!
Surely that is someone's limit.
Well, not quite. Each tries to push the price just a little bit to wear out the other. Seven more. Twenty more. Fifty more.
Unbelievable.
It finally stops at 1107.
For an old rusty metal sign.
Does that make it art now?
Nine hundred!
Not possible. But it is.
More three-minute pings.
ONE THOUSAND!!
Surely that is someone's limit.
Well, not quite. Each tries to push the price just a little bit to wear out the other. Seven more. Twenty more. Fifty more.
Unbelievable.
It finally stops at 1107.
For an old rusty metal sign.
Does that make it art now?
That is awesome!!! Does not surprise me ONE BIT.
ReplyDeleteI hope you learned something. The last time you cleaned out the barn and got rid of things I wanted to cry. I need to go into the import business and bring it here for you.
Makes you think twice about the rest, I bet!
Actually, I don't think anything anyone would collect was thrown out earlier. Old metal machine parts get next to nothing.
ReplyDeleteWow!! thats funny. But ya it not so surprise
ReplyDelete!!!! Awesome! Is art in the eye of the beholder?
ReplyDelete